Here’s a feel good movie for everyone, probably, especially, dog lovers. You get some scientist dudes hanging out in Antarctica, doing their scientist things, when the best way to get somewhere is by sled dogs. They get there, do there exploring, but than an accident happens and people are hurt. The rescue teams come, but there isn’t any room for the dogs, so, yea, the dogs are left to fend for themselves. Then the bad weather comes, and the dogs are really stranded. The movie tells the story of the dog’s survival and those that love them trying to get back to the Antarctic to save them.

It’s a feel good story, really can’t go wrong to make things feel good, but sometimes, that’s all that you want, although I’ve got to guess there will be a tear jerk here and there.

Well, the boys and girls are back, or at least most of them, in what is supposed to be the last of the “American Pie” series. This time it’s “American Wedding,” where our boy Jim (Jason Biggs, a.k.a. The Pie Fucker) is marrying the first girl he slept with, namely Michelle (Alyson Hannigan, a.k.a. The Lesbian on Buffy). Also back are Finch, Kevin, Jim’s Dad and the must have or you might as well just forget the movie, Stifler. Is it as funny as the original? Does it rise above number two? For me it nicely stuck to the framework of the movies, maybe a little more sappiness (it is about a wedding after all), but it still kept me laughing and almost made me throw up. For me, that’s good enough.
In a hilarious opening scene, once again Jim finds himself in an embarrassing situation, once again not caused by, but aided by his Dad. The question is asked, she says “Yes,” and it’s off to a hilarious look at planning a wedding, setting up a bachelor party, and Stifler trying to land himself a virgin, namely Cadence (January Jones), Michelle’s sister.

I will say that at the beginning of the film I was getting irked because they really put Stifler’s character over the top, so much so that there wouldn’t be any friendship left in my eyes, to the point of why don’t you just call the cops and get him out of your life. But with the addition of Cadence, and Stifler trying to score, it became even better how he transformed himself into the best man, still being rude, crude, and one funny dude.

In the end “American Wedding” adds a new level of gross-out comedy, makes you glad you’re not Jim, although Michelle is quite the sex-crazed girl, so maybe being Jim isn’t so bad, and if you liked either of the first “Pies” you’ll probably enjoy “Wedding.” But, if you didn’t get the humor of the first one’s stay away because this one will probably disgust you even more.

It’s 4 1/2 stars out of 5 for this one. They lost 1/2 star for Stifler being so over the top at the beginning, but that’s really the only complaint I have about the movie.

Lots of talk, a nipple or two, unfortunately none of them were Michelle’s nor Vicky’s.

Gratuitous Violence:

Maybe shoving a trumpet up someone’s ass, but that’s about it.

Action:

Only boys hoping they don’t get caught by potential lesbians.

Laughs:

Just like the first movie.

Memorable Scene:

Stiffler’s unrequested golden shower as well as Jim playing the trombone.

Memorable Quote:

Jim at band camp: “My name is Petey and I have gigantic balls!” and Jim’s Dad: “Don’t forget your penis cream.”

Directed By:

J.B Rogers

I’ve got a couple of questions for you. Did you like “American Pie?” You did. You’ll probably like “American Pie 2.” You didn’t like “American Pie?” Don’t rent or buy “American Pie 2.” It’s as simple as that.

So our favorite characters are fresh out of their first year of college and they’re all looking to party for the next three months, as well as get laid, but when the cops bust Stifler’s summer, kick-off party it’s looking like a boring summer. Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas), though, is extra bummed because he ran into Vicky (Tara Reid) and again turns to his older brother for advice. The brother’s suggestion – rent a beach house for the summer, work during the day and party every night, and by the end of the summer you’ll have a life revelation. So our boys rent a house and work as painters.

Well, kinda like the first movie all of our characters have their problems. Jim (Jason Biggs) is worried because Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth) is coming to visit and she’s hoping Jim has learned a little control. Jim, though, knows he still doesn’t have what it takes. Then you’ve got Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas), still in love with Stifler’s mom, learning tantric sex to improve his lovemaking. Oz (Chris Klein) is in general okay but a little worried because Heather (Mena Suvari) is over in Europe. And you know what, screw it, I’m not going to explain to you their problems, I’m sure you’ve got your own, but do you get the jokes like you did in the original? Yes, you get the jokes you expect, you even get some that are a little more gross, and you also get the predictable story you probably want, too.

I won’t ruin any of the jokes, although if you did see the trailer for “American Pie 2” you know what Jim’s masturbation problem is this time. And true to form you get Jim’s Dad (Eugene Levy), perfect as the goofy dad who is a great dad and, well, now seems to just want Jim to sleep with Nadia.

Did our boys grow up any? Yes, but not nearly as much as the girls. Tara looks even better, and Alyson Haningan as Michelle is even more adorable in her slightly annoying way. There are some hilarious scenes, some gross scenes, and some boring scenes, but as sequels go “American Pie 2” does its best to keep you interested in the characters (although some you wonder why some are listed so high on the credits, like Mena who is barely on screen) while still has you looking forward to seeing two women get it on.

The DVD version is full of extras that are actually worth having a DVD player (see “Cool Things About the DVD” below), and it still holds up as a comedy about growing up.

I got what I expected and the DVD stuff was worthwhile, so I’m giving “American Pie 2” 4 stars out of 5. Shannon didn’t get naked this time, although, honestly, she’s lost a couple of notches in my book while Tara moved up a few (she didn’t get naked either), but that doesn’t compare to the extended scene of the two dudettes our heroes think are lesbians.

I won’t say where they occur, but some of the lines I loved the most are: “Again?”, “Aged 18 years… Just the way I like it.”, “What’s my name, bitch!”

Directed By:

Paul Weitz

There were a few movies I was totally looking forward to seeing this summer, but with that build up of anticipation always comes the chance of the movie being a flop in my eyes. “American Pie” was one of those movies I wanted to see ever since I nearly fell out of my chair laughing after seeing the trailer, but I was worried that the trailer contained all of the funny scenes which would leave a lot of boredom for the rest of the movie. I will simply say that I was not disappointed, and “American Pie” goes on my list of funny movies that I will never take my mom to see.

In a nutshell, “American Pie” tells the story of four friends in high school who vow to get laid by the end of the school year. Each kid has his work cut out for him because neither of them are the suave and deboner types to get all of the chicks. Nope, Jim (Jason Biggs) is the normal dude, not really knowing how to talk to girls, especially the way-hot foreign exchange dudette Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth), and resorts mostly to masturbation to cool his jets. Then you’ve got Oz (Chris Klein), the jock dude who isn’t jock enough to get the chicks, and then scares away the rest of the girls by hanging with the foul-thinking teammates. Kevin’s (Thomas Ian Nickolas) got a girlfriend but can’t get past the oral homage area mostly because of his inability to say the right thing when his girlfriend says “I love you.” And then there’s Finch (Eddie Kay Thomas) who is just too smooth for the young girls and better fitted for the older ladies (yea right!). At least that’s what he seems to think. Each of them has their challenge, and Prom night’s coming so time is running out, and “American Pie” takes us through each dudes right of passage into adulthood. And a funny right of passage it is.

I won’t tell you much more than that because detailing any of the boys plans for scoring will probably ruin the anticipation of most of the jokes, so I will just say that, well, I laughed my ass off.

Yes, “American Pie” is a rude and crude as you think it might be from the commercials, and the teenagers will want to see it by sneaking into the movies, but really this movie is kind of a funny way for adults to look back and remember their first experiences with sex. I won’t say it’s a funny way for adults to look back at their first use of alcohol because I don’t think any of us drank as nonchalantly as these teens do, but hey, you can’t have everything in a movie.

If jokes about sex disgust you, if seeing teenagers drinking bothers you, and if you think tasteless movies are the downfall of society, for God’s sake don’t do see “American Pie.” You will become more disgusted, more bothered, and expect the second coming as you’re walking out of the theater. But if you can laugh about masturbation jokes, aren’t offended by things that happen at band camp, and think that internet porn isn’t such a bad thing, well, I think you’ll like “American Pie.”

Keep the youngins at home and relive your first time. Go see “American Pie.”

To wrap it up, this dude gives “American Pie” 4 ½ stars out of 5. It wasn’t the most cinematic of films, the acting wasn’t the greatest, but I laughed my ass off and that’s just what I wanted to do.